Ribbon inserter



July 21,1959 E, D1 LUCO 2,895,586

RIBBON INSERTER Filed May 24, 1957 -/4 u INVENTOR. 49 21 2! EugeneDz'laco MM An 1%,,

ATTORNEY United States Patent" RIBBON INSERTER Eugene Di Luco, NorthBrunswick, NJ.

Application May 24, 1957, Serial No. 661,487

8 Claims. (Cl. 197172) My invention relates generally to a ribboninserter, and specifically, to ribbon inserters for typewriters in theform of a ribbon cover that enables a typewriter ribbon to be insertedinto the ribbon carrier of the typewriter without soiling ones fingers,and further, permits the easy removal of the ribbon inserter.

It is an object of my invention to provide a typewriter ribbon inserterwhich enables the correct and rapid insertion of a typewriter ribboninto a ribbon carrier.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a typewriter ribboninserter which is rapidly removable.

Yet a further object of my invention is to provide a ice Referring nowto the drawings in detail, my ribbon inserter 11 is formed from a sheetof relatively thin, relatively tearable material. The transparency ofthis material is optional. The material may be a relativelythin,tearable paper, or a relatively thin, tearable plastic, or even afabric. The tearable quality of the sheet is not absolutely essential tomy invention, but that quality may add materially to the facility of itsuse. The sheet is formed with a back portion 12 of slightly greaterwidth than the width of the ribbon so that the ribbon 13 may lie on theback portion. The central area of the back 12 is provided with arcuatecuts 14, 1.4 at both the top and the bottom so that a narrow area orcentral constriction 15 is formed, whose extent is approximatelysufiicient to extend beyond the ribbon carrier. It is this centralconstricted portion 15 which fits into the ribbon carrier 16 and byreason of its small extypewriter ribbon inserter which has a minimum ofbulk,

in order to facilitate the insertion of the ribbon into the ribboncarrier, and minimize the risk of deforming the ribbon carrier beyondits elastic limits.

Yet a further object of my invention is to provide a typewriter ribboninserter which is removable with the greatest of ease. t

A still further object of my invention is to provide. typewriter ribboninserter which will provide complete protection from soiling for thefingers of the person inserting the ribbon.

These objects and advantages, as well as other object and advantages,may be achieved by the device illustrated in the drawings in which: i

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective, showing the position of the fingers ona typewriter ribbon provided with my ribbon inserter; the ribboninserteris still on the typewriter ribbon, which has been inserted intothe ribbon carrier.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of my typewriter ribbon inserterembracing a typewriter ribbon.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of my typewriter ribbon inserterembracing a ribbon.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of my typewriter ribbon inserterunfolded, with the position of the ribbon shown by the dotted lines.

Attention has been directed by many to the problem of installingtypewriter ribbons and particularly including provision for a cleaninstallation. To that end, many forms of sheath for the ribbon have beendevised, so that it may be handled with impunity. Many styles of coversfor the typewriter ribbon have been devised. While such covers doprovide a convenient means for holding the ribbon during the process ofinsertion into the ribbon carrier, they are often of such bulk that theyare diflicult to insert into the ribbon carrier, and during the courseof insertion cause a deformation of the ribbon carrier. Actually, thepart of the ribbon inserted into the ribbon carrier need not be coveredfor it is only necessary to cover the ribbon at the point where theribbon is grasped by the fingers. Furthermore, the ribbon inserter, onceits purpose has been accomplished, may be difiicult to remove from theribbon and ribbon carrier and in the process of removal, a certainamount of unfolding must be done, which inevitably leads the inserter tocontact with the ribbon and the soiling of the fingers.

l writer ribbon is simple.

tent provides a minimum of interference with the ribbon carrier 16. Thetop edge of the back 12 is provided with upwardly extending, triangulartop tabs 17 17 or enlargements, above the fold lines 18. Theseenlargements 17 are formed on either side of the arcuate cuts 14. On thebottom of the back 12 somewhat trapezoidal enlargements 19, 19 or bottomtabs are formed, extending downwardly from the fold lines 20, 20. Theseenlargements 19, 19 are provided with longitudinal slits 21, 21proportioned to receive the ends 23, 23 of the tabs 17, 17 when the tabs17, 19 are folded toward each other. At the center of the constriction15, a transverse score or tear-line 22 is provided.

The application of my ribbon inserter 11 to a type- The inserter 11 isdisposed, as shown in Fig. 4, with the ribbon 13 lying across it. Theribbon is preferably wound, in part, on two spools and the ribboninserter 11 is applied to a central portion of the ribbon. Theenlargements 19, 19 are folded upwardly, along the fold lines 20, 20.The enlargements 17, 17 are folded downwardly along the fold lines 18,18. The ends 23, 23 are inserted in the corresponding opposite slits 21,'21. The ribbon is then wound on each of the spools in my ribboninserter 11 disposed substantially at the central point where the ribbontraverses the space between the spools 24, .24.

When it is desired to insert my ribbon into the ribbon carrier 16 (thereare numerous forms of ribbon carriers), the two spools 24, 24 on whichthe ribbon is supplied are placed upon the spool carriers and the ribboninserter 11 is positioned over the ribbon carrier 16. The inserter 11 isgrasped between the index fingers and thumbs as shown in Fig. 1.Thereupon, by moving the inserter 11 behind the ribbon carrier theribbon is easily maneuvered into the slots in the ribbon carrier and thejob of insertion is complete.

There remains only the operation of removing the ribbon inserter 11which is achieved in the following manner. Since the ribbon inserter ismade of a relatively light, thin, tearable sheet material, the thumb andindex finger are pressed firmly on the ribbon inserter portions shownbetween them in Fig. l and the hands are moved away from each other.This causes a tearing of the constricted portion 15 of the ribboninserter usually at its center. The relatively tearable quality of thematerial of which the ribbon inserter 11 is made insures this becausethe central portion is its narrowest and Weakest point. In order toinsure tearing or separation at the central portion, the score line 22is applied. The ribbon inserter 11 will then tear at this particularpoint. When the respective halves of the ribbon inserter have beencaused to separate from each other and are pulled out from between theprongs of the ribbon carrier 16, a slight upward movement of the thumbwith respect to the index finger will cause each tab 17 to disengageitself from the slot 21, and the ribbon inserter 11 may have its twohalves easily lifted ofi of the ribbon 13.

It will be seen that with my device, no bulky central portion impairsthe ease of insertion of the ribbon into the ribbon carrier 16.Furthermore, the tabs 7.,.17 enable the rapid and easy removal of theribbon inserter from the ribbon.

It is to be recognized that the score line, or the use of relativelytearable strip material are equivalent expedients, either of which willenable the ribbon inserter to tear or separate into two parts at its midpoint.

It is further recognized that the ribbon inserter is useful on all typesof inked ribbons or tapes, whether for typewriters or other printing,mathematical, or recording instruments, where a ribbon must be insertedin a ribbon carrier.

The foregoing description is merely intended to illustrate an embodimentof the invention. The component parts have been shown and described,They each may have substitutes which may perform a substantially similarfunction; such substitutes may be known as proper substitutes for thesaid components and may have actually been known or invented before thepresent invention; these substitutes are contemplated as being withinthe scope of the appended claims, although they are not specificallycatalogued herein.

I claim:

1. A ribbon inserter comprising a strip having a central portiondimensioned to fit into a ribbon carrier, two pairs of opposed top andbottom tabs on the strip, the one pair being spaced apart from the otherpair a distance substantially the width of a ribbon carrier, the tabsoverlying the strip in general parallelism.

2. A ribbon inserter comprising a strip, and two pairs of opposed topand bottom tabs on the strip, the one pair being spaced apart from theother pair a distance substantially the width of a ribbon carrier, oneof each pair of tabs having a slit therein, and the opposite tab beinginsertable in the slit.

3. A ribbon inserter comprising a strip having a central portiondimensioned to fit into a ribbon carrier, two pairs of opposed top andbottom tabs on the strip, the one pair being spaced apart from the otherpair a distance substantially the width of a ribbon carrier, and anarrow central area on the strip between the pairs of tabs, the tabsoverlying the strip in general parallelism.

ascribes 4. A ribbon inserter comprising a strip having a centralportion dimensioned to fit into a ribbon carrier, two pairs of opposedtop and bottom tabs on the strip, the one pair being spaced apart fromthe other pair a distance substantially the width of a ribbon carrier,said strip being relatively thin and unresistant to tearing, the tabsoverlying the strip in general parallelism.

5. A ribbon inserter comprising a strip, two pairs of opposed top andbottom tabs on the strip, the one pair being spaced apart from the otherpair a distance substantially the width of a ribbon carrier, and aribbon disposed on the strip, the opposite tabs folded over the ribbonin pairs in overlapping relation to each other.

6. A ribbon inserter comprising a strip, two pairs of opposed top andbottom tabs on the strip, the one pair being spaced apart from the otherpair a distance substantially the width of a ribbon carrier, and a scoreline near the center of the strip defining a line for tearing.

7. A ribboninserter comprising a strip of material relativelyunresistant to tearing, a first pair of top and bottom tabs on thestrip, a second pair of top and bottom tabs on the strip separated fromthe first pair, a narrow portion on the strip between the first andsecond pairs of tabs, one of each pair of tabs having a slit into whichthe opposite tab is insertable when the tabs are folded toward eachother, and a score line near the center of the strip defining a line fortearing.

8. A ribbon inserter comprising a strip of material relativelyunresistant to tearing, a first pair of top and bottom tabs on thestrip, a second pair of top and bottom tabs on the strip separated fromthe first pair, a narrow portion on the strip between the first andsecond pairs of tabs, one of each pair of tabs having a slit into whichthe opposite tab is insertable when the tabs are folded toward eachother, a score line near thev center of the strip defining a line fortearing, and a ribbon disposed with its ends on two spools and theportion between the spools having the strip disposed thereon with thetabs folded over the ribbon in pairs in overlapping relation to eachother.

Palmer Mar. 30, 1948 Spiegel Apr. 9, 1957

